Penguins relinquish rights to forward prospect Cooper Foster

The Pittsburgh Penguins have relinquished the rights to forward prospect Cooper Foster.

A deadline to extend a qualifying offer to several prospects around the NHL to maintain rights expired at 5 p.m. on Sunday. A team spokesperson confirmed Foster did not receive an offer.

Foster, 19, was a sixth-round draft pick (No. 174 overall) by the Penguins in 2023. He has spent parts of the past four season seasons with the Ottawa 67s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).

During the 2024-25 regular season, Foster was that team’s second-leading scorer with 53 points (19 goals, 34 assists) in 55 games.

Foster is eligible to be selected in the upcoming draft, which will be staged June 27 and 28.

According to Puckpedia, Foster was one of 40 prospects who was subject to a deadline Sunday.

The 2023 NHL Draft was the Penguins’ first under current president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas. The statuses of the six players the Penguins selected in that draft:

First round (No. 14 overall) - Brayen Yager, center - Signed an entry-level contract with the Penguins on July 25, 2024. Traded to the Winnipeg Jets on Aug. 22, 2024.

Third round (No. 91 overall) - Emil Pieniniemi, defenseman - Signed an entry-level contract July 14, 2023.

Fifth round (No. 142 overall) - Mikhail Ilyin, right winger - Signed an entry-level contract Saturday.

Sixth round (No. 174 overall) - Cooper Foster, center - NHL rights relinquished Sunday.

Seventh round (No. 217 overall) - Emil Jarventie, left winger - Unsigned. NHL rights expire June 1, 2027.

Seventh round (No. 223 overall) - Kalle Kangas, defenseman - Unsigned. NHL rights expire June 1, 2027.